Operations and cargo flow at the Port of New York and New Jersey have been minimally impacted by COVID-19 and the leadership at the bi-state organization has prioritized improving the container return process to further increase efficiencies and better serve shippers and truckers.
Those are the two central observations highlighted by Commissioner Rebecca F. Dye in Phase Two of her review under Fact Finding 29, an investigation of COVID-19 impacts on liner shipping supply chains in U.S. trades.
Interviews with users of the port, as well as the findings of Innovation Teams assembled for Phase Two, revealed that despite being situated in an early COVID-19 hotspot, Port Authority leadership responded effectively to challenges that arose. Port users report that as a result of this effort facilities in the two states are working well. Especially helpful was the early and active intervention of port leadership with the local and state governments. Also cited was the effectiveness of stakeholder cooperation under the Council for Port Performance (CPP).
Commissioner Dye began her Phase Two review by assessing which of the four operational challenges identified during the Phase One examination of the Southern California ports were applicable to the situation in New York and New Jersey. The only common challenge was the need to make progress in returning containers in a manner that facilitates a “double move”. Senior port executives advised that achieving that goal is a high priority and the CPP is working to improve the process.
“During Phase One, our team members raised concerns about specific operations at Los Angeles and Long Beach. They identified container returns, terminal closure notification, blanked sailings, and communication of Earliest Return Date for export containers as areas for improvement. After many interviews and careful review of circumstances, it was clear that operations at the Port of New York and New Jersey were in good shape. However, our team members did encourage greater ocean carrier participation in port performance discussions as a step toward achieving better drayage outcomes,” commented Commissioner Dye.
While Fact Finding 29 will next examine the Port of New Orleans, Commissioner Dye continues to focus on progress made to adopt the operational changes Phase One Innovation teams identified as necessary to improve performance of the Southern California ports and terminals.
“We believe trade volumes are likely to substantially increase going forward and the Southern California ports remain the key gateway for the Nation’s international commerce. The ports, their terminal tenants, and the ocean carriers that use those facilities must embrace changes that improve efficiencies and operations and act now to implement them,” said Commissioner Dye.
Updated 8/6/2020 to change a reference from returning chassis to returning containers